Intro

The Peace Corps's overarching mission
is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:

1. To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
2. To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
3. To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

This blog is me tackling goal number three. I have been asked a lot of great questions from friends and family, but in an effort to reach all of you at once, I will try and recount my service here in an efficient and, hopefully, tasteful manner.

See my Instagram for other photos [@wardp0718] and if you want to know more, feel free to reach me via whatsapp. If you don't know the number, ask!

Background:

I am a health volunteer serving in Gainth Pate, Kaffrine, Senegal. In addition to health, Peace Corps Senegal has sectors in economic development and agriculture. Globally, Peace Corps serves in a number of other sectors as well. As a health volunteer I operate with the overarching goal of ending preventable child and maternal deaths. Via the Peace Corps approach, this is done in a number of ways: preventing malaria, combating malnutrition, educating community health workers and others on best practice, and whatever side projects we dare take on. Day by day I work in the local health post. A health post is maybe what we would refer to as a health clinic in the states: a step down from the hospital as far as size and resources go, but much more accessible to those in need, especially in hard to reach villages like mine. 

There are many languages spoken here in Senegal: Bambara, Fulakunda, Jaxanke, Mandinka, Pulaar du Nord, Pulafuta, Seereer, etc. Volunteers learn the language that is specific to their site, and I myself have been speaking/learning Wolof. Due to colonization, French is the language taught in school. When speaking with the staff at the health post or the teachers at the local school, my brain often becomes a 'Fr-olof 'soup. Additionally, French and Arabic share a lot of words within the Wolof language as well. To top it off, my village is split between wolof speakers and Pular speakers. Thankfully, many of the Pular speakers also speak Wolof, but I have already begun to pick up some Pular and there are some that are very adamant on teaching me. If I am feeling bold and willing to embarrass myself, I'll great people in Pular. For reference, a sample Wolof conversation may go like this:

(Note: Wolof is phonetic and many words have different spellings depending on who you ask. Moreover, the wolof I have been speaking has its own regional flavor as well – Wolof Saloum Saloum)

A – Asalaamalekum        (Peace be unto you, Arabic)

B – Malekum Salaam        (And unto you, Arabic)

A – Nanga def?        (How are you doing?)

B – Mangi fii rekk        (I am here only)

A – Anna waa keur ga?    (Where/How is your family?)

B – Nunga fa            (They are over there)

A – Nungi ci jamm?        (Are they in peace?)

B – Waaw, Nungi ci jamm    (Yes, they're in peace)

A – Alhamdulillah        (Praise be to god, Arabic)

B – Barakallah            (Blessing be upon you, Arabic)

A – Naka Tangaay bi?        (How's the hot season?)

B – Tang na jerrrrrrr!        (It's HOT!)

A – Yangi nos?        (Are you having fun?)

B – Tutti rekk            (Just a little)

A – Ba ci kanom        (Until later)

B – Inshallah            (God willing, arabic)

If that is at all interesting to you, I highly encourage you to ask me questions and explore further into the Wolof language.
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The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Senegalese Government.